Dr. Ronald E. McNair

Dr. Ronald E. McNair was the second African American astronaut, born to a struggling family in racially segregated South Carolina. Even as a youth, he was a star athlete, honor student, skillful musician and karate champion. He graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina A&T, attended M.I. T., and completed his Ph.D. in physics at the age of 26. He flew his first mission as an astronaut in 1984 and died at age 35 when the Challenger space shuttle exploded on lift-off in January 1986, killing Dr. Ronald E. McNair and his 6 colleagues.

The Program that carries his name seeks to equip its students, as he was equipped with knowledge, courage, and an unshakable will to succeed.